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Franz Beyer (pilot)

January 01, 1970

For other people named Franz Beyer, see Franz Beyer.

Franz Beyer (22 April 1918 – 11 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Beyer was killed on 11 February near Venlo, the Netherlands after dog-fighting with British Spitfires. During his career he was credited with 83 aerial victories, 6 on the Western Front and 77 on the Eastern Front. On 1 June 1943, Beyer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3.[1]

Franz Beyer
Born22 April 1918
Berlin-Grunewald
Died11 February 1944(1944-02-11) (aged 25)
south of Liège, Belgium
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
Plot L-row 11-grave 263
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1940–44
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 3
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career edit

Beyer was born on 22 April 1918 in Berlin-Grunewald at the time the capital of the German Empire.[2] On 12 July 1941, Beyer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Winfried Schmidt who had been wounded the day before.[3] On 1 April 1943, Beyer claimed his 80th aerial victory over a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter.[4]

Group commander and death edit

 
German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn - Franz Beyer

On 31 May 1943, Beyer was transferred and command of 8. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Emil Bitsch.[5] As part of the Luftwaffe plan to expand its fighter force, a fourth Gruppe was to be added to every Geschwader. This was achieved by transferring some of the other Gruppen's personnel and equipment. This created the nucleus of a newly formed Gruppe. IV. Gruppe of JG 3 was officially created on 1 June 1943 at Neubiberg Airfield and Beyer was selected as its first Gruppenkommandeur (group commander).[6] The Gruppe was initially equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, some carrying a pair of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons installed in conformal gun pods under the wings. Beyer was not given much time to prepare his pilots for combat, already in mid-June, the Gruppe was ordered to Italy to fight in the Mediterranean theater.[7]

On 11 July, IV. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Ramacca, Sicily. There, the Gruppe supported German forces defending against the Allied invasion of Sicily.[8] Due to the advancing Allied forces, the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July, forcing the Gruppe to retreat to Leverano.[9] Beyer claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 19 July when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.[10] On 23 July, the airfield at Leverona came under a heavy attack, killing one pilot and injuring six. The ground personnel suffered 30 killed and further 31 men were wounded. In the attack, the Gruppe lost 40 Bf 109s destroyed. In consequence, the airfield was abandoned by IV. Gruppe on 26 July, relocating to San Severo Airfield.[11] On 21 August, approximately 50 to 60 Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers without fighter escort were intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters from IV. Gruppe of JG 3 and I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Bomber Wing) in the vicinity of Naples. Luftwaffe fighter pilots claimed four bombers shot down, including one by Beyer who was credited with his 82nd aerial victory.[12]

IV. Gruppe was ordered back to Germany on 24 September where it was initially again based at Neubiberg Airfield.[13] Over the following weeks, the Gruppe was assigned new pilots and aircraft and trained for Defense of the Reich missions. The head on attack was practiced in mock combat against Heinkel He 111 bombers from III. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 53 (KG 53—53rd Bomber Wing).[14] The Gruppe flew its first combat mission against United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 19 December. The day the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attacked Innsbruck and the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg. Defending against this attack, Beyer claimed a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber shot down.[15]

On 28 January 1944, IV. Gruppe relocated to Venlo Airfield.[16] On 11 February, the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted the German railroad infrastructure at Frankfurt. In parallel to this attack, a formation of Martin B-26 Marauder bombers, escorted by Spitfire fighters, attacked various targets in Belgium. IV. Gruppe intercepted this formation in the vicinity of Liège. In this encounter, IV. Gruppe claimed two aerial victories but lost Beyer.[17] Flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411036—factory number), he was chased by Spitfire fighters and collided with a tree south of Liège.[18] Beyer was buried with military honors at Venlo on 17 February and later reinterred at the Ysselsteyn German war cemetery.[19] Command of IV. Gruppe was temporarily passed to Hauptmann Heinz Lang before command was officially handed to Major Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller on 26 February.[20]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Beyer was credited with 83 aerial victories.[21] Spick lists Beyer with 81 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. This figure includes 70 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and eleven over the Western Allies.[22] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 84 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 78 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and six on the Western Front, including two four-engined bombers.[23]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3936". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[24]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[25]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 9 June 1941
1 14 August 1940 13:50 Hurricane[26] 3 7 September 1940 18:10 Hurricane[27]
2 5 September 1940 11:10 Spitfire[27]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[25]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 11 July 1941
4 22 June 1941 07:29 I-16[28] 11 2 July 1941 09:30 I-153[29]
5 22 June 1941 18:55 I-153[28] 12 2 July 1941 11:30 V-11 (Il-2) 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Klevan[29]
6 23 June 1941 09:58 SB-2 Wojnica-Zaturcze[28] 13?[Note 1] 7 July 1941 18:54 I-16 west of Vinnytsia airfield[30]
7 25 June 1941 08:55 SB-2[28] 14 7 July 1941 18:55 I-16 Vinnytsia airfield[30]
8 25 June 1941 09:12 DB-3[31] 15 10 July 1941 19:31 TB-3(ANT-6)[30]
9 28 June 1941 18:15 SB-2 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zdolbernow[31] 16 10 July 1941 19:35 TB-3 (ANT-6)[30]
10 2 July 1941 06:05 I-16[31]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[25]
Operation Barbarossa — 12 July – 6 November 1941
17 13 July 1941 06:10 ZKB-19 (DB-3) west of Kiev[32] 30 27 July 1941 18:40 I-15[33]
18 13 July 1941 06:10 ZKB-19 northeast of Kiev[32] 31 27 July 1941 18:41 I-15[33]
19 15 July 1941 15:00 I-153[32] 32 7 September 1941 18:00 I-16[34]
20 15 July 1941 15:07 I-153 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Berdychiv[32] 33 20 September 1941 16:18 DB-3[34]
21 17 July 1941 16:03 SB-3[33] 34 24 September 1941 09:46 SB-3[35]
22 17 July 1941 16:05 SB-3[33] 35 3 October 1941 16:35 Il-2[35]
23 17 July 1941 19:10 DB-3[33] 36 5 October 1941 16:07 Il-2[35]
24 20 July 1941 18:45 I-17 (MiG-1)[33] 37 6 October 1941 15:57 I-16[35]
25 21 July 1941 10:47 I-16 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bila Tserkva[33] 38 11 October 1941 13:20 Il-2[35]
26 23 July 1941 12:45 DB-3[33] 39 11 October 1941 13:25 Il-2[35]
27 23 July 1941 13:47 SB-3[33] 40 12 October 1941 09:40 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Mtsensk[36]
28 24 July 1941 18:45 I-17 (MiG-1)[33] 41 18 October 1941 07:00 Pe-2[36]
29 24 July 1941 18:48 I-17 (MiG-1)[33] 42 25 October 1941 13:48 I-16[36]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[23]
Eastern Front – 10 February 1942 – 14 April 1942
43 13 February 1942 09:57 Il-2[37] 49 28 February 1942 10:30 I-301 (LaGG-3) southeast of Staraya Russa[38]
44 16 February 1942 12:02 R-5[37] ?[Note 2] 12 March 1942 13:08 BB-22 (Seversky) 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Soltsy[39]
45 22 February 1942 16:04 R-5 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Staraya Russa[37] 50 12 March 1942 13:58 Yak-4 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Soltsy[38]
46 23 February 1942 08:55 R-5 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Kresttsy[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa 		51 17 March 1942 16:22 I-61 (MiG-3) 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Mury[40]
47?[Note 1] 26 February 1942 08:55 R-5[37] 52 31 March 1942 12:57 I-61 (MiG-3) 30 km (19 mi) east of Staraya Russa[41]
48 26 February 1942 17:07 R-5 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Konjuchowo[37]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39]
Eastern Front – 14 April 1942 – 3 February 1943
53 20 May 1942 05:15 Il-2 north-northeast of Kharkiv[42] 66 9 August 1942 18:30 Il-2 northeast of Kalach[43]
54 20 May 1942 15:42 MiG-1 10 km (6.2 mi) east-northeast of Vovchansk[42] ?[Note 3] 20 August 1942 16:23 Pe-2 west of Lake Sweyliya[39]
55 26 May 1942 06:20 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Chuhuiv[42] ?[Note 3] 2 September 1942 06:38 LaGG-3 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Hrebinka[39]
56 29 May 1942 16:13 Yak-4 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Chuhuiv[45] ?[Note 3] 7 September 1942 16:41 Il-2 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Orlowka[39]
57 29 May 1942 16:15 Yak-4 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Chuhuiv[45] 67 10 December 1942 07:40 Il-2 north of Pitomnik Airfield[46]
58 26 June 1942 08:54 Il-2[45] 68 10 December 1942 08:44 MiG-3 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[46]
59 1 July 1942 12:32 MiG-3[47] 69 10 December 1942 08:50 Il-2 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Kriwomusginskaja[46]
60 5 July 1942 18:27 Boston[48] 70 11 December 1942 09:40 MiG-3 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[46]
61 5 July 1942 18:30 Boston[48] 71 11 December 1942 10:45 La-5 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Pitomik Airfield[46]
62 11 July 1942 03:23 Boston Nishne Kisljay[48] 72 11 December 1942 11:53 MiG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pitomik Airfield[46]
63 28 July 1942 09:03 LaGG-3 northeast of Kalach[49] 73 19 December 1942 11:10 Boston 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Bokorskaja[50]
64 3 August 1942 11:40 MiG-3 east of Kalach[43] 74 28 December 1942 10:40 Yak-1 north of Chernyshkovsky[50]
65 9 August 1942 18:27 Il-2 PQ 3936[43] 75 28 December 1942 14:05 Il-2 12 km (7.5 mi) north-northeast of Morozovskaya[50]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39]
Eastern Front – 4 February – 31 May 1943
76 12 February 1943 11:18 Il-2 east of Sloviansk[51] 79 22 March 1943 12:13 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Rostov[51]
77 12 February 1943 11:20 Il-2 east of Sloviansk[51] 80?[Note 1] 1 April 1943 08:32 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 91321, Menshulin[52]
78 6 March 1943 10:05 Il-2 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Andreyevka[51]
– Stab VI. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39]
Mediterranean theater – 1 July – 28 September 1943
81 19 July 1943 15:10 Spitfire Troina[53]
Sicily 		82 21 August 1943 14:14 B-24 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Marcianise[53]
4 km (2.5 mi) east of Pomigliano d'Arco
– Stab VI. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39]
Defense of the Reich – 28 September – 31 December 1943
83 19 December 1943 12:24?[Note 4] B-17 south of Innsbruck[54]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[38]
  3. ^ a b c Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock attributed this claim to Leutnant Hans-Georg Beyer from 9. Staffel.[44]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:04.[39]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3.[56]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 442.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 88.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 135.
  4. ^ Weal 2013, Chptr. 5.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 124.
  6. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 1.
  7. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 4–5.
  8. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 7.
  9. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 9.
  10. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 352.
  11. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 12–15.
  12. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 18.
  13. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 42, 46.
  14. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 46–47.
  15. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 49, 354.
  16. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 52.
  17. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 60.
  18. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 336.
  19. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 61.
  20. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 330.
  21. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  22. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  23. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 98–99.
  24. ^ Planquadrat.
  25. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 98.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 244.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 245.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 107.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 109.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 110.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 108.
  32. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 142.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003, p. 144.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 147.
  35. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 148.
  36. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 149.
  37. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 33.
  38. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 34.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 99.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 35.
  41. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 36.
  42. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 214.
  43. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 220.
  44. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 220, 222–223.
  45. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 215.
  46. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 227.
  47. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 216.
  48. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 217.
  49. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 219.
  50. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 228.
  51. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 127.
  52. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 128.
  53. ^ a b Prien et al. 2010, p. 136.
  54. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 342.
  55. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
  56. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 220.
  57. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 41.

Bibliography edit

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (1996). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-33-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2008). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-85-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 'Udet'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-300-6.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
Military offices
Preceded by
None
 Commander of IV./Jagdgeschwader 3
1 June 1943 – 11 February 1944 		Succeeded by
Hauptmann Heinz Lang

January 01, 1970
franz, beyer, pilot, other, people, named, franz, beyer, franz, beyer, franz, beyer, april, 1918, february, 1944, german, luftwaffe, fighter, pilot, during, world, recipient, knight, cross, iron, cross, nazi, germany, beyer, killed, february, near, venlo, neth. For other people named Franz Beyer see Franz Beyer Franz Beyer 22 April 1918 11 February 1944 was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and a recipient of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany Beyer was killed on 11 February near Venlo the Netherlands after dog fighting with British Spitfires During his career he was credited with 83 aerial victories 6 on the Western Front and 77 on the Eastern Front On 1 June 1943 Beyer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 1 Franz BeyerBorn22 April 1918Berlin GrunewaldDied11 February 1944 1944 02 11 aged 25 south of Liege BelgiumBuriedYsselsteyn German war cemeteryPlot L row 11 grave 263Allegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1940 44RankMajor major UnitJG 3Battles warsSee battlesWorld War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Italian Campaign Defence of the ReichAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross Contents 1 Career 1 1 Group commander and death 2 Summary of career 2 1 Aerial victory claims 2 2 Awards 3 Notes 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographyCareer editBeyer was born on 22 April 1918 in Berlin Grunewald at the time the capital of the German Empire 2 On 12 July 1941 Beyer was appointed Staffelkapitan squadron leader of the 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 JG 3 3rd Fighter Wing He replaced Oberleutnant Winfried Schmidt who had been wounded the day before 3 On 1 April 1943 Beyer claimed his 80th aerial victory over a Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 fighter 4 Group commander and death edit nbsp German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn Franz Beyer On 31 May 1943 Beyer was transferred and command of 8 Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Emil Bitsch 5 As part of the Luftwaffe plan to expand its fighter force a fourth Gruppe was to be added to every Geschwader This was achieved by transferring some of the other Gruppen s personnel and equipment This created the nucleus of a newly formed Gruppe IV Gruppe of JG 3 was officially created on 1 June 1943 at Neubiberg Airfield and Beyer was selected as its first Gruppenkommandeur group commander 6 The Gruppe was initially equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G 6 some carrying a pair of 20 mm MG 151 20 cannons installed in conformal gun pods under the wings Beyer was not given much time to prepare his pilots for combat already in mid June the Gruppe was ordered to Italy to fight in the Mediterranean theater 7 On 11 July IV Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Ramacca Sicily There the Gruppe supported German forces defending against the Allied invasion of Sicily 8 Due to the advancing Allied forces the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July forcing the Gruppe to retreat to Leverano 9 Beyer claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 19 July when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter 10 On 23 July the airfield at Leverona came under a heavy attack killing one pilot and injuring six The ground personnel suffered 30 killed and further 31 men were wounded In the attack the Gruppe lost 40 Bf 109s destroyed In consequence the airfield was abandoned by IV Gruppe on 26 July relocating to San Severo Airfield 11 On 21 August approximately 50 to 60 Consolidated B 24 Liberator bombers without fighter escort were intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters from IV Gruppe of JG 3 and I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 JG 77 77th Bomber Wing in the vicinity of Naples Luftwaffe fighter pilots claimed four bombers shot down including one by Beyer who was credited with his 82nd aerial victory 12 IV Gruppe was ordered back to Germany on 24 September where it was initially again based at Neubiberg Airfield 13 Over the following weeks the Gruppe was assigned new pilots and aircraft and trained for Defense of the Reich missions The head on attack was practiced in mock combat against Heinkel He 111 bombers from III Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 53 KG 53 53rd Bomber Wing 14 The Gruppe flew its first combat mission against United States Army Air Forces USAAF on 19 December The day the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attacked Innsbruck and the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg Defending against this attack Beyer claimed a Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress bomber shot down 15 On 28 January 1944 IV Gruppe relocated to Venlo Airfield 16 On 11 February the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted the German railroad infrastructure at Frankfurt In parallel to this attack a formation of Martin B 26 Marauder bombers escorted by Spitfire fighters attacked various targets in Belgium IV Gruppe intercepted this formation in the vicinity of Liege In this encounter IV Gruppe claimed two aerial victories but lost Beyer 17 Flying Bf 109 G 6 Werknummer 411036 factory number he was chased by Spitfire fighters and collided with a tree south of Liege 18 Beyer was buried with military honors at Venlo on 17 February and later reinterred at the Ysselsteyn German war cemetery 19 Command of IV Gruppe was temporarily passed to Hauptmann Heinz Lang before command was officially handed to Major Friedrich Karl Tutti Muller on 26 February 20 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to US historian David T Zabecki Beyer was credited with 83 aerial victories 21 Spick lists Beyer with 81 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions This figure includes 70 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and eleven over the Western Allies 22 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 84 aerial victory claims This figure includes 78 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and six on the Western Front including two four engined bombers 23 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 3936 The Luftwaffe grid map Jagermeldenetz covered all of Europe western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude an area of about 360 square miles 930 km2 These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km 4 km 1 9 mi 2 5 mi in size 24 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the question mark indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike Bock Mathews and Foreman Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 25 At the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 9 June 1941 1 14 August 1940 13 50 Hurricane 26 3 7 September 1940 18 10 Hurricane 27 2 5 September 1940 11 10 Spitfire 27 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 25 Operation Barbarossa 22 June 11 July 1941 4 22 June 1941 07 29 I 16 28 11 2 July 1941 09 30 I 153 29 5 22 June 1941 18 55 I 153 28 12 2 July 1941 11 30 V 11 Il 2 15 km 9 3 mi north of Klevan 29 6 23 June 1941 09 58 SB 2 Wojnica Zaturcze 28 13 Note 1 7 July 1941 18 54 I 16 west of Vinnytsia airfield 30 7 25 June 1941 08 55 SB 2 28 14 7 July 1941 18 55 I 16 Vinnytsia airfield 30 8 25 June 1941 09 12 DB 3 31 15 10 July 1941 19 31 TB 3 ANT 6 30 9 28 June 1941 18 15 SB 2 5 km 3 1 mi southeast of Zdolbernow 31 16 10 July 1941 19 35 TB 3 ANT 6 30 10 2 July 1941 06 05 I 16 31 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 25 Operation Barbarossa 12 July 6 November 1941 17 13 July 1941 06 10 ZKB 19 DB 3 west of Kiev 32 30 27 July 1941 18 40 I 15 33 18 13 July 1941 06 10 ZKB 19 northeast of Kiev 32 31 27 July 1941 18 41 I 15 33 19 15 July 1941 15 00 I 153 32 32 7 September 1941 18 00 I 16 34 20 15 July 1941 15 07 I 153 70 km 43 mi southeast of Berdychiv 32 33 20 September 1941 16 18 DB 3 34 21 17 July 1941 16 03 SB 3 33 34 24 September 1941 09 46 SB 3 35 22 17 July 1941 16 05 SB 3 33 35 3 October 1941 16 35 Il 2 35 23 17 July 1941 19 10 DB 3 33 36 5 October 1941 16 07 Il 2 35 24 20 July 1941 18 45 I 17 MiG 1 33 37 6 October 1941 15 57 I 16 35 25 21 July 1941 10 47 I 16 15 km 9 3 mi northeast of Bila Tserkva 33 38 11 October 1941 13 20 Il 2 35 26 23 July 1941 12 45 DB 3 33 39 11 October 1941 13 25 Il 2 35 27 23 July 1941 13 47 SB 3 33 40 12 October 1941 09 40 Il 2 15 km 9 3 mi west southwest of Mtsensk 36 28 24 July 1941 18 45 I 17 MiG 1 33 41 18 October 1941 07 00 Pe 2 36 29 24 July 1941 18 48 I 17 MiG 1 33 42 25 October 1941 13 48 I 16 36 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 23 Eastern Front 10 February 1942 14 April 1942 43 13 February 1942 09 57 Il 2 37 49 28 February 1942 10 30 I 301 LaGG 3 southeast of Staraya Russa 38 44 16 February 1942 12 02 R 5 37 Note 2 12 March 1942 13 08 BB 22 Seversky 35 km 22 mi southeast of Soltsy 39 45 22 February 1942 16 04 R 5 20 km 12 mi north northeast of Staraya Russa 37 50 12 March 1942 13 58 Yak 4 25 km 16 mi southeast of Soltsy 38 46 23 February 1942 08 55 R 5 15 km 9 3 mi northwest of Kresttsy 37 15 km 9 3 mi southeast of Staraya Russa 51 17 March 1942 16 22 I 61 MiG 3 5 km 3 1 mi southeast of Mury 40 47 Note 1 26 February 1942 08 55 R 5 37 52 31 March 1942 12 57 I 61 MiG 3 30 km 19 mi east of Staraya Russa 41 48 26 February 1942 17 07 R 5 5 km 3 1 mi north of Konjuchowo 37 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 39 Eastern Front 14 April 1942 3 February 1943 53 20 May 1942 05 15 Il 2 north northeast of Kharkiv 42 66 9 August 1942 18 30 Il 2 northeast of Kalach 43 54 20 May 1942 15 42 MiG 1 10 km 6 2 mi east northeast of Vovchansk 42 Note 3 20 August 1942 16 23 Pe 2 west of Lake Sweyliya 39 55 26 May 1942 06 20 Il 2 15 km 9 3 mi south of Chuhuiv 42 Note 3 2 September 1942 06 38 LaGG 3 5 km 3 1 mi north of Hrebinka 39 56 29 May 1942 16 13 Yak 4 15 km 9 3 mi east of Chuhuiv 45 Note 3 7 September 1942 16 41 Il 2 5 km 3 1 mi northeast of Orlowka 39 57 29 May 1942 16 15 Yak 4 25 km 16 mi east northeast of Chuhuiv 45 67 10 December 1942 07 40 Il 2 north of Pitomnik Airfield 46 58 26 June 1942 08 54 Il 2 45 68 10 December 1942 08 44 MiG 3 4 km 2 5 mi northwest of Pitomnik Airfield 46 59 1 July 1942 12 32 MiG 3 47 69 10 December 1942 08 50 Il 2 4 km 2 5 mi east of Kriwomusginskaja 46 60 5 July 1942 18 27 Boston 48 70 11 December 1942 09 40 MiG 3 30 km 19 mi north northwest of Pitomnik Airfield 46 61 5 July 1942 18 30 Boston 48 71 11 December 1942 10 45 La 5 5 km 3 1 mi southwest of Pitomik Airfield 46 62 11 July 1942 03 23 Boston Nishne Kisljay 48 72 11 December 1942 11 53 MiG 3 10 km 6 2 mi east of Pitomik Airfield 46 63 28 July 1942 09 03 LaGG 3 northeast of Kalach 49 73 19 December 1942 11 10 Boston 10 km 6 2 mi southeast of Bokorskaja 50 64 3 August 1942 11 40 MiG 3 east of Kalach 43 74 28 December 1942 10 40 Yak 1 north of Chernyshkovsky 50 65 9 August 1942 18 27 Il 2 PQ 3936 43 75 28 December 1942 14 05 Il 2 12 km 7 5 mi north northeast of Morozovskaya 50 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 39 Eastern Front 4 February 31 May 1943 76 12 February 1943 11 18 Il 2 east of Sloviansk 51 79 22 March 1943 12 13 LaGG 3 10 km 6 2 mi south of Rostov 51 77 12 February 1943 11 20 Il 2 east of Sloviansk 51 80 Note 1 1 April 1943 08 32 MiG 3 PQ 35 Ost 91321 Menshulin 52 78 6 March 1943 10 05 Il 2 7 km 4 3 mi north of Andreyevka 51 Stab VI Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 39 Mediterranean theater 1 July 28 September 1943 81 19 July 1943 15 10 Spitfire Troina 53 Sicily 82 21 August 1943 14 14 B 24 5 km 3 1 mi east of Marcianise 53 4 km 2 5 mi east of Pomigliano d Arco Stab VI Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet 39 Defense of the Reich 28 September 31 December 1943 83 19 December 1943 12 24 Note 4 B 17 south of Innsbruck 54 Awards edit Iron Cross 1939 2nd and 1st Class Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 8 Jagdgeschwader 3 55 Note 5 German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 3 57 Notes edit a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman 23 This claim is not listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock 38 a b c Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock attributed this claim to Leutnant Hans Georg Beyer from 9 Staffel 44 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12 04 39 According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 3 56 References editCitations edit Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 442 Obermaier 1989 p 88 Prien et al 2003 p 135 Weal 2013 Chptr 5 Prien et al 2012 p 124 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 1 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 pp 4 5 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 7 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 9 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 352 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 pp 12 15 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 18 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 pp 42 46 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 pp 46 47 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 pp 49 354 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 52 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 60 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 336 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 61 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 330 Zabecki 2014 p 1614 Spick 1996 p 236 a b c Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 98 99 Planquadrat a b c Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 98 Prien et al 2002 p 244 a b Prien et al 2002 p 245 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 107 a b Prien et al 2003 p 109 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 110 a b c Prien et al 2003 p 108 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 142 a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al 2003 p 144 a b Prien et al 2003 p 147 a b c d e f Prien et al 2003 p 148 a b c Prien et al 2003 p 149 a b c d e f Prien et al 2005 p 33 a b c Prien et al 2005 p 34 a b c d e f g h i Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 99 Prien et al 2005 p 35 Prien et al 2005 p 36 a b c Prien et al 2006 p 214 a b c Prien et al 2006 p 220 Prien et al 2006 pp 220 222 223 a b c Prien et al 2006 p 215 a b c d e f Prien et al 2006 p 227 Prien et al 2006 p 216 a b c Prien et al 2006 p 217 Prien et al 2006 p 219 a b c Prien et al 2006 p 228 a b c d Prien et al 2012 p 127 Prien et al 2012 p 128 a b Prien et al 2010 p 136 Prien et al 2008 p 342 Fellgiebel 2000 p 112 Scherzer 2007 p 220 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 41 Bibliography edit Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Archived from the original on 22 December 2018 Retrieved 14 July 2020 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile The Bearers of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 1945 The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches in German Friedberg Germany Podzun Pallas ISBN 978 3 7909 0284 6 Mathews Andrew Johannes Foreman John 2014 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 1 A F Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 18 9 Obermaier Ernst 1989 Die Ritterkreuztrager der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 1945 The Knight s Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 1945 in German Mainz Germany Verlag Dieter Hoffmann ISBN 978 3 87341 065 7 Patzwall Klaus D Scherzer Veit 2001 Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II The German Cross 1941 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 45 8 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard 1996 Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 1945 Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 1945 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 33 5 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2002 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 4 I Einsatz am Kanal und uber England 26 6 1940 bis 21 6 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 4 I Action at the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 63 2 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 6 I Unternehmen BARBAROSSA Einsatz im Osten 22 6 bis 5 12 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 6 I Operation BARBAROSSA Action in the East 22 June to 5 December 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 69 4 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2005 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 9 I Winterkampf im Osten 6 12 1941 bis 30 4 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 9 I Winter War in the East 6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 76 2 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2006 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 9 II Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad 1 5 1942 bis 3 2 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 9 II From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad 1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 77 9 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2008 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 10 II Reichsverteidigung 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 10 II Defense of the Reich 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 85 4 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2010 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 11 I Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 11 I Action in the Mediterranean Theater 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 95 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2012 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 12 I Einsatz im Osten 4 2 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 12 I Action in the East 4 February to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Buchverlag Rogge ISBN 978 3 942943 02 4 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives The Knight s Cross Bearers 1939 1945 The Holders of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army Air Force Navy Waffen SS Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives in German Jena Germany Scherzers Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Weal John 2013 Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 78096 300 6 Zabecki David T ed 2014 Germany at War 400 Years of Military History Santa Barbara California ABC Clio ISBN 978 1 59884 981 3 Military offices Preceded byNone Commander of IV Jagdgeschwader 31 June 1943 11 February 1944 Succeeded byHauptmann Heinz Lang Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franz Beyer pilot amp oldid 1205903124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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